Mythical Beasts

Information
Series 1: 10x60 | HD | 2018

FormatHD

Production CompanyWindfall Films

Year of Production2019

For thousands of years, civilizations have believed in mythical beasts – Dragons, Cyclops, Giants, Vampires and Sea Monsters. But where did the stories of these fabled creatures come from? How much truth lies behind the legend? And what can these myths tell us about the medieval and ancient civilizations that created in them?

This series combines action-packed location filming with experts in archaeology and palaeontology with cinematic CGI animation to unearth the true stories behind these and other mythical beasts. Each hour-long episode will reveal the history, archaeology and truths behind two connected monster mysteries.

Ep 4: Terror of the Dragons

From Scandinavia to China, stories of dragons appear across the globe. Some ancient civilizations saw the dragon as a symbol of evil, others revered them and welcomed their help. But why does the dragon appear in so many different cultures? Now science and archaeology are starting to shed new light on the truth behind this mythological super-beast. The discovery of prehistoric dinosaur bones may have convinced our ancestors that these terrifying creatures really did exist.

Ep 2: Mystery of the Pyramid Serpent

The Feathered Serpent was a terrifying beast. Why did the people of Mesoamerica live in fear of this half snake half bird creature and worship it as a god? Now investigators at the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico are uncovering the shocking story of this strange beast. They’re exploring the secrets of a huge temple, covered in ferocious carvings of the mysterious god. What did the ancient Mesoamericans see in nature that made them believe that such a creature could exist?

Ep 1: Legend of the Minotaur

The tale of the Minotaur is one of the most famous of all the Greek myths. This mutant half-man, half-bull monster was said to live inside a fiendish labyrinth on the island of Crete and devour its young victims. What is the real-world inspiration behind this fantastical story? Now evidence of human sacrifice and the skull of a huge extinct bull suggests that there may be more to this fable than we once thought.